I Had a Good Day Today

[Warik]

I find this strange. For the past 4 months, I've never gone through a day without thinking: "Damn, this day sucked." Today, my first full work day since school ended, was a good day.

It was awesome.

I'd just like the world to know that the source of my distaste for humanity is school. Isn't it funny how a 9 hour work day requiring lots of thinking and programming, the kind of thing that makes people despise their existences and wish awful things upon others, has made me happier where a mere 3-4 hours school day involving nothing but sleeping or listening to a "teacher" ramble on about insignificant things has made Hell itself look like a playground for children? I want all of you humans out there to know that I don't really hate you. It was the school talking. I think most of you can be pretty cool people. Why, I was even awoken by a telemarketer this morning who let me hang up the phone when I told her that I was not interested in her credit card. What a great way to start a day.

Tomorrow, however, I must sit in a waiting room for hours in order to get a check-up for new health insurance, despite the fact that it is evident that I am in perfect health. But no... I will not allow the vile hospital to cause me stress. I am going prepared with "The Legend of Bagger Vance.mpg" and my trusty Palm Pilot to keep me sane. Perhaps tomorrow I will not hate humans either.

-Warik

 

[Paulos]

Congratulations.

 

[salviadro]

Damit, you stole my "good day"

 

[b fold the truth]

Keep your head up...

B True

 

[2 ton hoss]

WARIK, A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS. I GUESS I AM IN MY 40S OR SO AND THUS A FAIR BIT OLDER THAN YOU, AND I HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH SCHOOL. AFTER THE FIRST TWO YEARS I COULD NOT STAND COLLEGE. I GOT QUITE GOOD GRADES WITH ONLY A FAIR BIT OF WORK, BUT I JUST DISLIKED SCHOOL. THERE WERE SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, NO ONE WANTED TO BE THERE. YOU GROW UP HEARING ABOUT COLLEGE AS THIS GREAT PLACE WHERE EVERYONE WANTS TO LEARN, EVERYONE IS EAGER, ET CETERA. BULLSHIT. EVERYONE WANTED TO PASS WITH AS LITTLE EFFORT AS POSSIBLE THAT THEN GO GET SMASHED. THAT IS SAD. AND WHILE I REALLY WANTED TO LEARN, I FOUND THE ATMOSPHERE LACKING (AND IT SHOWED IN MORE TANGIBLE WAYS BY PROFESSORS DUMBING DOWN THE CURRICULA BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO HOMEWORK AND STUFF). SO I TRIED JUST NOT GOING TO CLASS (NO I WAS NOT LAZY, I WAS HOLDING DOWN A 40 HOUR JOB). AND THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT EITHER. I JUST FOUND MYSELF DRIFTING FURTHER AWAY FROM IT.

MAYBE YOU ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION.

I DROPPED OUT. JUST LEFT. I HAD A GOOD JOB. I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN, NOT TO GET A DEGREE. AND I COULD LEARN MORE OF WHAT I WANTED TO LEARN ON MY OWN. MONEY HAS NEVER BEEN A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR ME (AND THAT HAS CAUSED ME PROBLEMS...) BUT THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL.

HOSS, JUST DROP OUT. YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK. WORK HARD, SAVE UP A BUNCH, THEN GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR A FEW YEARS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POINT IN CAUSING YOURSELF UNNECESSARY STRESS. STRESS IS VERY UNHEALTHY, AND IF YOU CAN'T OR WON'T TRY TO CHANGE HOW YOU DEAL WITH IT, YOU SHOULD JUST STOP GETTING INTO SITUATIONS THAT CREATE IT ALTOGETHER.

ABOUT THE WAITING ROOM, NO SYMPATHIES THERE, FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, LOOK AT IT FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE. WHY WOULD THE INSURANCE COMPANY TAKE YOUR WORD THAT YOU ARE IN GOOD HEALTH? IT IS TO EVERYONE'S BENEFIT THAT YOU GET A CHECKUP. YOUR OWN, IN CASE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. THE COMPANY'S, IN CASE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. THE OTHER INSURED PARTIES, WHOSE PREMIUMS WILL GO UP OVER TIME IF PEOPLE WITH HORRIBLE PROBLEMS ARE GIVEN LOW RATES. SECOND, A WAITING ROOM ISN'T SO BAD. JUST TAKE A BOOK. OR IN YOUR CASE, A MOVIE.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY YOU HATE HUMANS, PERHAPS YOU COULD ENLIGHTEN ME. I CAN GUESS AT REASONS, BUT I THINK THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY POOR GROUNDS FOR HATING PEOPLE IN GENERAL. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE AS SHEEP. THEY MIGHT HAVE A BIT MORE AUTONOMY, BUT IN MOST SITUATIONS, THEY GO DOWN THE SAME OL' NEURAL PATHWAYS, AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE IN THIS CONTEXT.

I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THAT IN MOST CASES, WHAT YOU HATE ARE THE BUREAUCRATIC REGULATIONS. IN FACT, AS INDIVIDUALS, I'D SAY THE VAST, VAST, MAJORITY OF PEOPLE DETEST VARIOUS BEAURACRACIES. AND YET THEY EXIST...WHY? BECAUSE COLLECTIVE DECISIONS ARE OFTEN COMPROMISES, AND ARE OFTEN STUPID. BECAUSE SOMEONE'S TRYING TO SAVE THEIR ASS. ANY NUMBER OF REASONS.

ANYWAY I HAVE RAMBLED A FAIR BIT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, ACCEPT THE THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE OR YOUR LONG TERM MENTAL STATE AND HEALTH WILL SUFFER. OR POSSIBLY, ACT SO YOU ENCOUNTER THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. [IN YOUR CASE PERHAPS REPLACE THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE WITH MAN-MADE THINGS OR LAWS OR REGULATIONS YOU CAN'T CHANGE]

I DID THE LATTER. SPENT 3 YEARS DROPPING IN AND OUT OF SOCIETY, ALTERNATING BETWEEN LIVING ON THE FRINGE, WORKING TO SAVE MONEY, AND LIVING DIRECTLY IN A MORE SURVIVAL TYPE SITUATION.

I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY. YOU WILL GAIN MANY NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE IDIOCY THAT IS HUMANITY.

 

[Warik]

WARIK, A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS. I GUESS I AM IN MY 40S OR SO AND THUS A FAIR BIT OLDER THAN YOU, AND I HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH SCHOOL. AFTER THE FIRST TWO YEARS I COULD NOT STAND COLLEGE. I GOT QUITE GOOD GRADES WITH ONLY A FAIR BIT OF WORK, BUT I JUST DISLIKED SCHOOL. THERE WERE SEVERAL REASONS. FIRST, NO ONE WANTED TO BE THERE. YOU GROW UP HEARING ABOUT COLLEGE AS THIS GREAT PLACE WHERE EVERYONE WANTS TO LEARN, EVERYONE IS EAGER, ET CETERA. BULLSHIT. EVERYONE WANTED TO PASS WITH AS LITTLE EFFORT AS POSSIBLE THAT THEN GO GET SMASHED. THAT IS SAD. AND WHILE I REALLY WANTED TO LEARN, I FOUND THE ATMOSPHERE LACKING (AND IT SHOWED IN MORE TANGIBLE WAYS BY PROFESSORS DUMBING DOWN THE CURRICULA BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO HOMEWORK AND STUFF). SO I TRIED JUST NOT GOING TO CLASS (NO I WAS NOT LAZY, I WAS HOLDING DOWN A 40 HOUR JOB). AND THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT EITHER. I JUST FOUND MYSELF DRIFTING FURTHER AWAY FROM IT.

I find myself in the same situation. I think that the degree itself means nothing, since even people with less-than-par intelligence can get one. When I do go to school, it's to learn or to meet some foolish requirement. I only enjoyed one class this semester, because it taught me things that I would need for my future as a programmer (algorithms and useful data structures). The others were just crap. Think about it... school is what? 18 weeks? Each class is 1.25 hrs. 1.25 hrs x 3 classes = 3.75 hrs x twice a week = 7.5 hrs per week x 18 wks = 135 hrs. Now, I'm not going to advertise how much money I earn, but let's just say that sitting idly in a chair for 135 hours is NOT cost-effective and has cost me over $1,000 this semester which I could have used to pay a credit card bill or take a vacation or something. If I do something, I'd like to get something out of it.

Why do I watch Star Trek & He-Man? I get enjoyment.

Why do I work? I get money.

Why do I read stuff on the web and post on EF? I learn things.

Why do I go to school? ...

...

...

... I'll have to get back to you on that one.

I DROPPED OUT. JUST LEFT. I HAD A GOOD JOB. I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN, NOT TO GET A DEGREE. AND I COULD LEARN MORE OF WHAT I WANTED TO LEARN ON MY OWN. MONEY HAS NEVER BEEN A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR ME (AND THAT HAS CAUSED ME PROBLEMS...) BUT THAT'S IT IN A NUTSHELL.

My friend spent 1 semester in college before he dropped out. He's currently employed and has some people from this other company literally orgasming over some work he did in the past. My other friend who is almost done with college has no job. So much for the value of a degree. I don't understand it really. I go to college, so I know what little value a degree has. Didn't bigtime company CEO's go to college? Don't they know a degree is garbage compared to experience? Oh well.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POINT IN CAUSING YOURSELF UNNECESSARY STRESS. STRESS IS VERY UNHEALTHY, AND IF YOU CAN'T OR WON'T TRY TO CHANGE HOW YOU DEAL WITH IT, YOU SHOULD JUST STOP GETTING INTO SITUATIONS THAT CREATE IT ALTOGETHER.

This is true. Nearly all stress can be avoided. If I don't let something cause me stress, then I really can't be stressed by it, can I?

ABOUT THE WAITING ROOM, NO SYMPATHIES THERE, FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, LOOK AT IT FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE. WHY WOULD THE INSURANCE COMPANY TAKE YOUR WORD THAT YOU ARE IN GOOD HEALTH? IT IS TO EVERYONE'S BENEFIT THAT YOU GET A CHECKUP. YOUR OWN, IN CASE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. THE COMPANY'S, IN CASE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. THE OTHER INSURED PARTIES, WHOSE PREMIUMS WILL GO UP OVER TIME IF PEOPLE WITH HORRIBLE PROBLEMS ARE GIVEN LOW RATES. SECOND, A WAITING ROOM ISN'T SO BAD. JUST TAKE A BOOK. OR IN YOUR CASE, A MOVIE.

Aw come on... no sympathy at least? Yeah, I understand that it's better from an economic point of view, and I truly don't mind getting the blood/piss/whatever tests done - I just hate waiting for so long. Why do hospitals make appointments they can't keep? If I were a consultant and I set up a lunch appointment with a potential client for 1:00pm and didn't talk to him until 2:00pm, you think he'd be happy to see me? What's so hard about saying: "sorry sir, the doctor is not available at that time. Why don't you come by at X:00pm instead?" I'd rather go to the hospital at an inconvenient time than spend more time than necessary waiting.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY YOU HATE HUMANS, PERHAPS YOU COULD ENLIGHTEN ME. I CAN GUESS AT REASONS, BUT I THINK THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY POOR GROUNDS FOR HATING PEOPLE IN GENERAL. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE AS SHEEP. THEY MIGHT HAVE A BIT MORE AUTONOMY, BUT IN MOST SITUATIONS, THEY GO DOWN THE SAME OL' NEURAL PATHWAYS, AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN. YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE IN THIS CONTEXT.

I don't hate individuals necessarily, because I tend to associate with individuals who I see as exceptions to the human rule. I hate humans in general because the world is in the state it is in because of the way people think. Think about it... crime, war, poverty, economic distress, etc.

Crime? It's wrong to steal, harass, and kill. Why do people do it? Do you realize that if every single nation of the entire world legalized murder and theft, I still wouldn't murder or still? Why can't everyone else be like that? Why can't everyone do the right thing? Fucking humans.

War? Do you really think that the war between the Israelis and the Palestinians over a chunk of fucking dirt is justifiable? The life of an Israeli is just as valuable as the life of a Palestinian - and neither is more valuable than a chunk of fucking dirt. So why the killing? You don't see me killing my neighbor because his house creates a shadow that blocks the sun from shining on my fucking daisies, do you? Fucking humans.

Poverty? That guy sleeps under a bridge and eats out of garbage cans. Give him a fucking job. Who cares if he is homeless. Since when do you need an address to bag groceries or prepare fast food? Fucking humans.

Economic Distress? If the economy is doing badly, why are you going to lay people off? How is that going to help the economy by increasing unemployment? Why don't you just sell your blatantly overpriced shit for less? Oh no... Mr. Big CEO & his 30 vice presidents will only make 6 figures this year instead of 7. God forbid they sacrifice 10% of their inflated salary to help 30,000 people continue to put food on the table and buy Christmas presents for their kids. Fucking humans.

I can go on and on. I truly think that this planet would have absolutely no problems aside from natural disasters and alien invasions if people had a better sense of morality. I think morality can be defined universally. There is no relatively to morality.

Do you now see why I hate humans?

ANYWAY I HAVE RAMBLED A FAIR BIT. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, ACCEPT THE THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE OR YOUR LONG TERM MENTAL STATE AND HEALTH WILL SUFFER. OR POSSIBLY, ACT SO YOU ENCOUNTER THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. [IN YOUR CASE PERHAPS REPLACE THINGS YOU CAN'T CHANGE WITH MAN-MADE THINGS OR LAWS OR REGULATIONS YOU CAN'T CHANGE

I guess Bagger Vance said it best. "[Life] is a game. You can't win it... you can only play it." Looks like all I can do is play as best I can.

I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY. YOU WILL GAIN MANY NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE IDIOCY THAT IS HUMANITY.

Actually, I'd rather avoid humanity unless absolutely necessary. If Heaven does exist, and I reach it, I'm sure it will be a copy of Earth populated by Warik-minded individuals. You know... working only 3-4 hours a day because they are highly productive and spending their evenings watching TV shows about these silly people called "humans" who kill each other and steal from each other. Hah! What savages those humans are!

-Warik

 

[2 ton hoss]

My friend spent 1 semester in college before he dropped out. He's currently employed and has some people from this other company literally orgasming over some work he did in the past. My other friend who is almost done with college has no job. So much for the value of a degree. I don't understand it really. I go to college, so I know what little value a degree has. Didn't bigtime company CEO's go to college? Don't they know a degree is garbage compared to experience? Oh well.

YES, YES, AND YES. EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING. SO IF YOU ARE A GOOD AND VALUABLE WORKER (AND BE OBJECTIVE HERE), THEN QUIT SCHOOL AND KEEP YOUR JOB. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK. YOU MIGHT EVEN ENJOY IT IF YOU GO BACK. OR, YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO GO BACK. THIS IS MY ADVICE ANYWAY.

Aw come on... no sympathy at least? Yeah, I understand that it's better from an economic point of view, and I truly don't mind getting the blood/piss/whatever tests done - I just hate waiting for so long. Why do hospitals make appointments they can't keep? If I were a consultant and I set up a lunch appointment with a potential client for 1:00pm and didn't talk to him until 2:00pm, you think he'd be happy to see me? What's so hard about saying: "sorry sir, the doctor is not available at that time. Why don't you come by at X:00pm instead?" I'd rather go to the hospital at an inconvenient time than spend more time than necessary waiting.

I BELIEVE THEY RUN BEHIND ON APPOINTMENTS SO OFTEN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR SCHEDULES FULL. THEY ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SCHEDULE. I MYSELF WAITED 2 HOURS IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE TODAY, ODDLY ENOUGH. I DIDN'T MIND SO MUCH THIS TIME, BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY (AMBULANCE AND EVERYTHING). BUT IN GENERAL, YES, IT BUGS ME, BUT I TRY LIKE HELL NOT TO LET IT. THAT IS HOW TO FUNCTION IN SOCIETY.

I don't hate individuals necessarily, because I tend to associate with individuals who I see as exceptions to the human rule. I hate humans in general because the world is in the state it is in because of the way people think. Think about it... crime, war, poverty, economic distress, etc.

Crime? It's wrong to steal, harass, and kill. Why do people do it? Do you realize that if every single nation of the entire world legalized murder and theft, I still wouldn't murder or still? Why can't everyone else be like that? Why can't everyone do the right thing? Fucking humans.

I AGREE, HOSS. I AGREE. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT, AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE WRONG, NO MATTER WHAT THE STATUS OF THEIR LEGALITY.

War? Do you really think that the war between the Israelis and the Palestinians over a chunk of fucking dirt is justifiable? The life of an Israeli is just as valuable as the life of a Palestinian - and neither is more valuable than a chunk of fucking dirt. So why the killing? You don't see me killing my neighbor because his house creates a shadow that blocks the sun from shining on my fucking daisies, do you? Fucking humans.

I AGREE, HOSS. AGAIN I AGREE. YOU ARE ECHOING MY THOUGHTS. I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE ROOT CAUSES IN THIS CASE. THE MAIN ONE, OBVIOUSLY, IS NOT THINKING CRITICALLY - NOT CRITICALLY ANALYZING THE SITUATION. CLOSELY TIED TO AND SOMEWHAT DERIVATIVE FROM THIS IS BELIEVING THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEIR ANCESTORS DID, AND WILLING TO PUNISH PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEIR ANCESTORS DID OR OWNED - AND IN GENERAL "RELIVING ANCIENT HISTORY". ALSO CLOSELY TIED IS TAKING PRIDE IN SITUATIONS NOT OF ONE'S CREATION - SITUATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENSTANCE.

Poverty? That guy sleeps under a bridge and eats out of garbage cans. Give him a fucking job. Who cares if he is homeless. Since when do you need an address to bag groceries or prepare fast food? Fucking humans.

HAVING BEEN HOMELESS MYSELF (BUT BY CHOICE), I CAN SAY SOME PEOPLE PREFER IT THAT WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES I'D RATHER JUST WORK AT A MCDONALDS AND SLEEP IN A TENT ON PUBLIC LAND IN THE DESERT THAN DO THE WHOLE HOUSE APARTMENT THING. MANY HOMELESS ARE MENTALLY ILL. SOME ARE JUST LAZY. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD NOT ASCRIBE TO THEM TRAITS OR VIEWS THAT YOU YOURSELF HAVE. FOR INSTANCE, YOU MIGHT VALUE HAVING A HOME. MANY OF THEM DO NOT. IF PEOPLE WANT TO PROVIDE CHARITY TO HOMELESS, FINE. BUT I THINK GOVERNMENT BENEFITS SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

I can go on and on. I truly think that this planet would have absolutely no problems aside from natural disasters and alien invasions if people had a better sense of morality. I think morality can be defined universally. There is no relatively to morality.

Do you now see why I hate humans?

I HAVE AN INTERESTING THEORY. DISCOUNTING THE EVOLUTIONARY THEORY OF BEHAVIOR (WHICH SEEMS TO EXPLAIN A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU'RE ANNOYED AT - YOU SHOULD READ UP ON IT), MY THEORY IS THAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL GROW UP TO BE SELFISH AND LAZY BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PARENT. THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE. WE TRUST PARENTING TO, LARGELY, NAUGHT BUT OUR INSTINCTS. AND WHAT AN IMPORTANT JOB IT IS. CORRECT PARENTING CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW A CHILD GROWS UP. WE HAVE FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE - AND YET PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE HOME CHILDREN FROM THE HOSPITAL NO QUESTIONS ASKED. NOW, I AM NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT WE NEED FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON PARENTING. I AM JUST MUSING. I REALLY DO THINK IF PEOPLE KNEW HOW TO BE GOOD PARENTS, WE COULD SOLVE A LOT OF SOCIETY'S PROBLEMS. PERHAPS A "GOOD PARENT" WILL NOT BE A "GOOD PARENT" IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE. PERHAPS THE DEFINITION OF A "GOOD PARENT" MIGHT VARY IN EVERY CASE. YOU ARE A PROGRAMMER? SO YOU ARE MATHEMATICALLY MINDED. THERE MUST EXIST, FOR EACH CHILD, SOME SPECIFIC RULES FOR PARENTING THAT WILL MAXIMIZE HIS ADULTHOOD TRAITS OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY, ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IF ONLY SCIENCE COULD LOOK AT A CHILD AND DETERMINE THAT WAY OF PARENTING, AND IF ONLY PEOPLE WOULD THEN LISTEN. BUT I AM BEING WAY TOO IDEALISTIC AND OFF THE WALL HERE. STILL, JUST SOME THOUGHTS OF MINE.

Actually, I'd rather avoid humanity unless absolutely necessary. If Heaven does exist, and I reach it, I'm sure it will be a copy of Earth populated by Warik-minded individuals. You know... working only 3-4 hours a day because they are highly productive and spending their evenings watching TV shows about these silly people called "humans" who kill each other and steal from each other. Hah! What savages those humans are!

-Warik [/B]

AVOID HUMANITY UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY? YOU SHOULD TRY LIVING ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS. IT IS NOT ONLY PEACEFUL, BUT CHALLENGING (IN A NON-INTELLECTUAL SENSE). WORK IN YOUR JOB FOR A FEW YEARS. SAVE SOME MONEY TO BUFFER YOUR RETURN. THEN JUST LEAVE... IF YOU CAN'T HACK IT, POP INTO TOWN TO WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS HERE AND THERE. THEN JUST LEAVE SOME MORE. AND ONCE YOU ARE FED UP WITH THAT WAY OF LIFE, IF EVER, COME BACK. USE YOUR BRAINS TO FIND A NEW JOB, A GOOD JOB.

ANYWAY HOSS, THAT IS JUST MY EXPERIENCE. CHECK YOUR PM, BY THE WAY.

 

[Warik]

YES, YES, AND YES. EXPERIENCE IS EVERYTHING. SO IF YOU ARE A GOOD AND VALUABLE WORKER (AND BE OBJECTIVE HERE), THEN QUIT SCHOOL AND KEEP YOUR JOB. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK. YOU MIGHT EVEN ENJOY IT IF YOU GO BACK. OR, YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO GO BACK. THIS IS MY ADVICE ANYWAY.

Well, I have very little time to go, so I'll probably finish wasting it in school because I doubt I'd return after seeing how much better the real world is.

MY THEORY IS THAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL GROW UP TO BE SELFISH AND LAZY BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PARENT.

Hah... I agree. I think most of the bad parenting has come recently from mothers going to work instead of taking care of their kids. What kind of development do you think a child is going to have if he is raised by a stranger instead of his own mother? The first 5 years before going to school are some of the most important in a child's early development. They should be spent with his mother and not at some stupid daycare center. School time? The kid should be with his mom when he gets home from school.

At least that's how it was when I was born. My dad told my mom that once she had the baby, she had to quit her job. She agreed and that was that. Look how I came out. Compare that to some "mom & dad work 9 to 5 and then we eat McDonald's for dinner in our dirty house that mom is too busy to clean" person my same age. Who do you think had a better childhood?

YOU ARE A PROGRAMMER? SO YOU ARE MATHEMATICALLY MINDED. THERE MUST EXIST, FOR EACH CHILD, SOME SPECIFIC RULES FOR PARENTING THAT WILL MAXIMIZE HIS ADULTHOOD TRAITS OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY, ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IF ONLY SCIENCE COULD LOOK AT A CHILD AND DETERMINE THAT WAY OF PARENTING, AND IF ONLY PEOPLE WOULD THEN LISTEN. BUT I AM BEING WAY TOO IDEALISTIC AND OFF THE WALL HERE. STILL, JUST SOME THOUGHTS OF MINE.

I think it's the same fundamentally. For a child with no mental or physical disabilities, there should not be a large variation in how care must be administered at an early age. After all, the child enters this world knowing nothing and learning nothing except what he is exposed to.

AVOID HUMANITY UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY? YOU SHOULD TRY LIVING ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS. IT IS NOT ONLY PEACEFUL, BUT CHALLENGING (IN A NON-INTELLECTUAL SENSE). WORK IN YOUR JOB FOR A FEW YEARS. SAVE SOME MONEY TO BUFFER YOUR RETURN. THEN JUST LEAVE... IF YOU CAN'T HACK IT, POP INTO TOWN TO WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS HERE AND THERE. THEN JUST LEAVE SOME MORE. AND ONCE YOU ARE FED UP WITH THAT WAY OF LIFE, IF EVER, COME BACK. USE YOUR BRAINS TO FIND A NEW JOB, A GOOD JOB.

Actually, I don't think I could survive too long without a computer. I'd hate to imagine how boring my life would be if I didn't have a keyboard in front of me most of the day.

-Warik